Collamore, Minzy win selectmen seats in Waldoboro

Waldoboro — Residents of Waldoboro voiced their opinion at the polls June 10, electing Joanne "Jann" Minzy and Clinton Collamore Sr. to fill the vacant seats on the Board of Selectmen. Minzy received 422 votes and Collamore, 354.

They fill the expired seats of Craig Cooley and James Bodman. Incumbent Cooley received 310 votes. He had served on the board for four years, two as chairman. Bodman did not seek reelection.

Also seeking election to the board were Robert Butler and Wilfred Dever.

Working as a team and bringing a sense of community back to the table is what the new candidates hope to achieve.

Collamore is no stranger to the select board process, having served 13 years on the board — seven as chairman.

Now ready to jump back in to the small town government he loves so much, Collamore said he hopes to bring everyone together like he remembers it used to be.

"The community seems to be at odds about everything," he said. He looks forward to being an effective leader and making the public more aware of what is going on and how it may affect them.

"It all has to do with communication," said Collamore.

"I have been involved in the community forever, and may as well be in a decision-making level," said Collamore, adding "I know the town and its people."

"I believe it's important to look at all sides of an issue, basing decisions on facts," said Minzy. "Opinions are fine, but if they are not based on fact, they don't amount to a hill of beans," she added.

Minzy looks forward to bringing a sense of team to the select board, she said.

"We should be a team working for the good of our community, each having his or her own voice, listening to each other and community members, seeing where we agree, and then making decisions. I'd like to see more real dialogue among the members," she said.

With the development of new businesses and a community art and culture center in the works, Minzy believes there is a movement now that needs to be encouraged.

"Promoting Waldoboro is a good thing," she said.

Also voted into office were Frederick Bess and Samuel Chapman, both for three-year terms on the Utility District; and William Bragg, Ted Mohlie, and Duncan Morrell for three-year terms on the Budget Committee.

A two-year term on the Utility District had one write-in candidate, Carl Waterman.

Two three-year terms on the Regional School Unit 40 Board of Directors had no candidates file papers for running, however Dana Dow and William Moody were write-in candidates.

Total non-property tax revenues are projected to decrease by approximately $1,094 or .05 percent. Taxes will increase by $28,770 or 3.75 percent. Excise taxes are expected to increase by $26,900 or 3.84 percent. Townspeople voted to spend $35,000 to offset the tax rate.

The town's general fund unassigned fund balance at June 30, 2013 was $708,694, an increase of $322,259 from the previous year.

Townspeople also voted to take $5,000 from the Shellfish Conservation Reserve to fund a second part-time warden position

The total proposed expenditures are budgeted at $3,858,332, an increase of $161,084 or 4.34 percent. General highlights are:

— Salaries and wages increased with an average increase for regular employees budgeted at 3 percent, which is consistent with the wage increase in the negotiated collective bargaining agreement with police and public works employees.

— All employees who subscribe to dependent coverage under the town-sponsored health insurance plan are required to pay 15 percent of the cost of the premium.

— In addition, the town-sponsored health insurance continues use of a high deductible plan, complimented with a Health Reimbursement Account which is funded at $25,000.

— The town contribution rates to the employee retirement plan, Maine Public Employees Retirement System, increased from 10.5 percent to 11 percent for police officers and from 6.5 percent to 7.8 percent for all other eligible employees. This resulted in an approximate $3,309 increase to the budget.